COACHING RESOURCES FOR THE WORLD’S

MOST INNOVATIVE SOCCER COACHES

JUVENTUS
A One Week Journal of
Practices and Training Sessions
 Table of Contents
Juventus Pre-Season Daily Training Sessions
Training Summer 2001 Monday 7/30/01
Youth Team
9:30 am - Forward runs & movement; incline sprints
Background Info: 4:30 pm - Technical practice: passing & control; possession
• Italian Ritiro (pre-season training)
• Description of Juventus Summer Village and surrounding
Tuesday 7/31/2001
area
Youth Team
• Overall Schedule of Preparation
9:30 am - Possession and penetration; course running
• Background of Juventus Football Club
4:30 pm - Rest
• Background of Juventus Primavera (premier youth team)
• Positions and roles of coaching and training staff
• First team daily schedule and diet Wednesday 8/1/01
• Diagnostic and training equipment used Youth Team
9:30 am - Long passing & back passes; functional training
for forwards; physical training
Technical Observations: First Team
• Juventus summer transfers and team news (Zidane, Davids, 4:30 pm - Technique; passing & possession. Offense v
Nedved, etc.) defense, “partitelle” (scrimmage)
• General Training Observations
Thursday 8/2/01
Youth Team
9:30 am - Technique (receiving & passing). Physical training
on obstacle course
First Team
4:30 pm - Possession; and offense v defense

Friday 8/3/01
Youth Team
9:30 am - Crossing & finishing; physical training with a ball
4:30 pm - Rest

Saturday 8/4/01
Youth Team
9:30 am - Tactical training with defensive unit; crossing and
finishing for attacking unit, weight training & timed sprints

Sunday 8/5/01
Youth Team
9:30 am - Crossing & heading; physical training with a ball
(modified scrimmages)
4:30 pm - Scrimmage v AC Fenis

Monday 8/6/01
Youth Team
9:30 am - Shadow play focusing on formation (modified
3-4-3); pressing practice, running.
4:30 pm - Rest

Tuesday 8/7/01 - Youth Team

9:30 am - Physical training; shooting

CT 2000 Coaching Seminar  © WORLD CLASS COACHING

 Background
The material for this journal is provided by Dave Brown, Coaching and Program Director for Cascade Avalanche and
Shooting Stars soccer clubs located in Snohomish County, near Seattle, Washington. This journal was made possible by
the sponsorship of GoPlay Sports Tours and in cooperation with WORLD CLASS COACHING. Through this affiliation,
Dave Brown was able to attend pre-season training with Juventus F.C. in the summer of 2001 at their training camp
in the Italian Alps. This journal represents Brown’s observations of the training sessions of the professional and youth
(Primavera) teams of Juventus. A more complete background, including training schedules, diets, general coaching
observations, more training sessions and interviews with various members of the coaching staff, including Assistant
Coach, Dr.. Jens Bangsbo can be found on the WORLD CLASS COACHING web site at www.worldclasscoaching.com.

Founded in 1897, the history of Juventus has been one of 1:30 pm - Press conference (for selected players who do
success and glamor. Enriched by the fortune of the Fiat these on a rotation basis) and free time followed by an
auto company, “Juve” is the only Italian club that can sport afternoon nap.
two gold stars on their jersey over their team crest. Each 4:15 pm - Wake up call
represents ten Italian “Scudettos” (League Championships). 5:00 pm - Evening training (on-field tactical and technical
Juve’s 25 championships far overshadow its closest rivals of training)
AC Milan (16) and Inter Milan (13) and they can also boast 8:00 pm - Dinner
two European Champions League titles, the most recently in 8:30 pm - Free time
1996. Juve have never been relegated and the Bianconeri
(black and whites) have fan clubs throughout Italy and the Primavera Background
world. Juventus fields 16 youth teams ranging from the Primi Calci
(“first kicks”) aged 7 and 8 up to the Primavera (meaning
During our stay, my interpreter, Andrea Rizzi, a GoPlay literally “Spring”) made up of professional players aged 16,
Sports Tour manager, and I were able to observe thirteen 17 and 18. Since Italian clubs do not field reserve teams,
training sessions and several friendlies while interviewing the Primavera team takes on great importance as a likely last
members of the coaching and playing staffs of both the step before entry into the First Team squad. Current stars
Prima Squadra (first team) and the Primavera, the oldest that first appeared in the Juve Primavera include Alessio
youth team in the Juve organization. While the first Tacchinardi and Alessandro Del Piero.
team’s busy tournament schedule and secrecy limited our
opportunities to see them in training, we were able to The Primavera squad was in residence at Fenis, located five
gain an extensive picture of the Primavera’s training and miles north of Chatillon, from July 25 through August 8.
development objectives. During this time they generally trained twice a day (9:30
am and 4:30 pm) unless evening scrimmages or friendlies
Juventus start their pre-season training at the “Juventus were scheduled.
Summer Village” in the French-influenced town of Chatillon
from July 16 through August 3. This includes games Training Areas Used
against other top Italian clubs like Napoli and Inter Milan. Usually the players worked in one quadrant of a field for
The remaining pre-season training is done in Turin at their drills, one half of the field for offense v defense type work
regular training ground. and in a regular field shortened to 70 yards for scrimmage
type sessions.
First Team Daily Pre-Season Training Schedule
(From Alessio Secco, Chief Press Officer Juventus F.C.) Note: A more complete version of this background article
can be found on the WORLD CLASS COACHING web site
The players train twice daily with the exception of days at www.worldclasscoaching.com.
when there are scrimmages, and of course, on days off.
Their typical daily schedule is as follows: GoPlay Sports Tours is a leading provider of quality sports
tours for players and coaches to Italy, Europe and other
8:15 am - Wake up call destinations worldwide. Coaches and players interested
8:30 am - Breakfast in GoPlay Sports Tours should contact James Matthews,
9:30 am - Morning training (strength, power and speed, Director, at goplay@acis.com or (877) 795-0814.
aerobic and anaerobic training)
1:00 pm - Lunch

© WORLD CLASS COACHING  CT 2000 Coaching Seminar

 Juventus Primavera - July 30th AM
This practice was observed during the morning session on July 30th. The squad (aged between 16 and 18) were split into
two groups. One was made up of 10 field players plus a goalkeeper (the attacking group) and the second was made up of
the defending players including two additional goalkeepers.

Strength Fitness Session

The defending group did a strength session using the indoor weight room before coming outside to do lunges with 35 lb.
barbells and several variations of sit-ups.

Diagram 1 Forward Runs Onto Through Balls

After playing a short keep-away game of 9 v 2 in an
18 x 12-yard area, the attacking players work on angles
and timing of runs by the central strikers beginning
in a forward position with their backs to goal. Their
defenders are four poles or cones arranged as a flat back
four in front of the penalty area.

Coaching Developments
The striker’s starting position is with his back to goal
up against the right ‘central defender’. His supporting
midfielder, starting near the center circle, advances with
the ball. The forward then moves towards him, turning
sideways, leading with his left foot.

Progression
Still sideways on, he begins to pull away from his marker with quick steps, the entire time seeing both his teammates as
well as the defense. Now facing the goal, he then breaks to the goal, timing his run so as to not being offside at the time the
ball is released. Upon collecting the through pass, he moves forward to finish.

Diagram 2

Progression
The coach replaces the cone and acts as a passive
defender following the attacker’s movements up until the
pass is made. The player now has two options: If the
coach elects not to mark closely and hold his position,
the ball can now be received at or slightly in front of the
striker’s feet for him to run on and score as in diagram
1. Or if the coach does mark closely as the run is made,
the midfielder is instructed to play the ball behind the
marking defender’s back as shown in diagram 2.

A1 Attacking Player Path of Player Path of Dribble

D1 Defending Player Path of Ball Target Area

Juventus Journal  © WORLD CLASS COACHING

 Juventus Primavera - July 30th AM

Diagram 3

Variation
The final variation is to help the strikers find room in
the opposite direction. If the striker can not “shake” the
attention of his marker and find sufficient room, he then
quickly double backs on his run and turns across the
defender and attacks the space between the two center
backs to receive a pass.

Observations
All of the finishing from these drills is done in two touches in the following way: Receive with the ball controlled about a
yard in front, look up at the goalkeeper’s position and then a second touch to finish. The “passive” play of the coach acting
as a defender was very realistic in terms of good positioning up to the point of the player’s run. Once the players achieved
the good timing and angles to free themselves, they were allowed to run on and finish unchallenged.

Juventus Primavera - July 30th PM

This session began at 4:20 pm following a team discussion in the clubhouse. The technical warm up consisted of 20
field players working in five groups of four and three goalkeepers with the goalkeeper coach. The goalkeepers’ session
included receiving and playing back passes in two touches, clearing back passes with volleys, making saves at the near
post and pressure training involving five volleyed shots from 12 yards out and a quick dive for a close range shot.

Passing Technique Diagram 4

The field players spread out in one half of the field,
and grouped by position, (forwards together, midfielders
together, etc.) undertake passing line exercises (i.e. two
players facing each other about four yards apart as shown
in diagram 4). Upon playing a one-touch pass to a facing
teammate, follow the pass and run to the back of the
opposite line.

Progression
Same as before, but instead of running across to the
opposite line, take a simple step back and move out of the
way for a teammate to pass one-touch across the distance
as shown in diagram 5.

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© WORLD CLASS COACHING  Juventus Journal
 Juventus Primavera - July 30th PM

Diagram 5

Progressions
• Same drill but now with the ball in the air - still one touch
• Same, but with a size three ball, headers only
• Same, but one-touch volleys with feet
• Same, but “short, short, long” with headers only.
The first player throws it to himself, plays a short headed pass
to the player facing him, who plays a short header back. The
first player now heads long to the second player facing him,
and so it continues.

Keep-Away
Diagram 6 To break things up, the coach organizes a 3 v 1 in a
5-yard square with a size three ball. Various conditions are
introduced such as keeping the ball on the ground, in the air
or mandatory two-touch with the defender only intercepting
and not tackling.

Longer Passing and Receiving

The players return to their groups of four, now with two
players in each group facing the other two about 15 yards
apart across the width of the field. Player A makes a long
pass to player B who ‘dummies’ the ball for player C before
turning to receive a short pass back from player C. Player B
would then return the ball short to player C who then plays a
long pass on the ground to player D. The sequence continues
when D passes back to A to re-start.

Diagram 7

Fitness Exercise: 5 v 5 + 5 Keep-Away

Play 5 v 5 in the middle of a rectangle with a one-touch
restriction. Each team is supported by five ‘resting’
teammates who are available for one-touch return passes,
but restricted in movement to about one yard up and
down the line. The teams rotate regularly.

Progression
Replace the one-touch restriction with a three-second
time limit and with the outside players allowed to move
freely up and down the touch-line.

Conditioned Scrimmage
The session is ended with a 9 v 9 scrimmage (plus goalkeepers) in one half of the field with each team playing a 4-3-2
or 3-4-2 formation. The following restrictions apply: “Forwards Cannot Score”, only lay balls off or cross. “Midfielders
Cannot Defend” only focus on scoring from central positions with one touch.

Juventus Journal  © WORLD CLASS COACHING

 Juventus Primavera - July 31st AM

Diagram 8 Warm-Up
Following casual passing and juggling in pairs, all the
field players line up in a 4-3-3 formation and play
keep-away with 10 consecutive passes counting as a
goal.

Line Game
With the same formation, now play with the “goals”
being two lines set up six yards from each end of the
half-field. The objective is to dribble the ball under
control into the “end zone” following a minimum of
four passes. Players are not allowed to pass the ball
over the line and it is a “make it take it” situation,
i.e. the team keeps possession once a goal is scored.
Conditions include no lofted passes or only one or two
touches.

Diagram 9

Coaching Points
Both team’s back four defenders are encouraged to
hold their restraining defensive lines just in front of
the marked lines (as shown in diagram 9). The coach
emphasizes diagonal movement by the forwards to
create space for an advancing midfielder or an outside
defender to make runs into goal scoring positions.
Ground passes only were allowed as the final pass into
the end zones. Both teams find success with long passes
“cushioned” into the path of an advancing player to go
on and score.

Diagram 10

Penetration and Finishing Exercise

The field is reduced to 60 yards in length with two full
sized goals. Six yards in front of the respective penalty
area of each team is a back four made up of cones
set in a flat line four yards apart. Field players take
up the positions shown in diagram 10, with forwards
beginning from positions on the opposite ends of the
field.

© WORLD CLASS COACHING  Juventus Journal

 Juventus Primavera - July 31st AM

Diagram 11
Sequence
Play begins with player A dribbling straight toward three
cones before slaloming through them. At the same time,
his supporting forward (B) begins to move towards him,
timing his run to arrive in front of his opposing “back
four” at the same time player A is finishing his slalom.
Player A passes to player B, who with his back to goal,
lays the ball back to A at an angle. A plays a one-touch
ball to player C, who has been advancing from his left
flank position. Player A’s through ball must be placed
through the back four with accuracy so as to not make
player C offside. Player C then goes on to finish. Once
the white team has completed their sequence, the black
team then starts.

Juventus Primavera - August 1st AM

This session began at 9:30 am at Fenis Stadium. The squad was split into two groups. One group was made up of
forwards and midfield players who were working on positional play and long passing while the other group, made up of
defenders and goalkeepers, were training with the fitness coach.

Diagram 12

Attacking Positional Play

The attacking group works in a 15 x 30-yard
grid. The focus of the exercise is combination
play in midfield, leading to longer flighted passes to
teammates in forward positions. This long pass is
then followed by a quick support from a teammate
who arrives for a first time lay-off

Attacking Patterns
Two typical attacking patterns (as seen in diagrams 12 & 13) are demonstrated. In the first attacking pattern (diagram 12),
player A passes to player B who plays a short forward pass to D. D drops the ball to C who then plays a long forward
pass to player E who lays the ball off to player B who continues his run. In second attacking pattern (diagram 13), player
A passes to C who returns a pass to A. A then plays a first-time long ball to E who then lays the ball off to D who,
along with player B, is running to support.

Juventus Journal  © WORLD CLASS COACHING

 Juventus Primavera - August 1st AM

Diagram 13

Coaching Points
• Angles of support when the ‘back or last’ player is
“showing for the ball” to begin the movement
• The quality of passing (accuracy and weight),
especially balls played back to a teammate who is in
a position to play a long pass
• The quickness of the angle of support of the player’s
runs to receive the lay-off from the teammate in the
most forward position

Offense v Defense
The 10 field players work in half a field. With the coach as server, five players take up attacking positions while five
others create a flat back four plus a goalkeeper.

Organization
Diagram 14 The coach instructs the player in the center forward
position to push himself up level with the back line,
while supporting teammates position themselves at least
10 yards behind him. The back four players form their
restraining line about one or two yards in front of the
penalty area and without coaching, meet the challenge of
a central midfielder advancing with the ball. One of the
center backs steps up as his teammates pinches in behind
him to create a flat back three.

Coaching Points
The coach emphasizes the positional play of the center
forward being slightly sideways on. He encourages the
wide players to be direct and beat an immediate opponent
to get a cross delivered and he encourages the attacking
team to be patient.

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 Juventus First Team - August 1st PM
This is a session of the Juventus first team included all their well known players such as Conte, Davids, Del Pierro,
Montero, Nedved, Thuram, Trezeguet and Zambrotta. The warm-up focused on the technical aspect of passing and
possession. The session progressed into a small-sided possession game and ended with a 10 v 10 game with an emphasis
on controlled possession to get the ball wide and attack with crosses.

Diagram 15 Technical Work In Pairs

While three goalkeepers work at the opposite end of the
field with their coach, 18 field players work in pairs in
the penalty area. They do the following exercises for two
minutes each, changing roles on the coaches signal every
minute and doing light stretching in the 30-second rest
period between each drill.

• One player dribbles the ball, feinting and changing

direction in a small area shadowed by his partner who
doesn’t make a tackle, but who stays close to his
opponent
• One player now shields the ball from his partner, staying
in a small area, shifting the ball from one foot to another
depending on the defender’s position

Diagram 16

Progression
Following a break for stretching, the players move freely,
passing and moving without direction. They no longer
work just with their partners and there is still only one ball
per two players.

Players with the ball dribble while those without call for
the ball to receive short passes. Following a pass or upon
receiving a pass, the players move quickly away to a new
position (as shown in diagram 16).

Diagram 17

Progressions
• Similar, but now the dribbling player approaches a player
slowly and then plays a quick wall pass and accelerates onto
the return pass (as shown in diagram 17).

• Now have one ball between three players. The dribbling

player, working with a teammate, “attacks” a defender and
combines with his teammate for a wall pass around him.
After the move is complete, the defender then takes the ball
and initiates his own wall pass.

Juventus Journal 10 © WORLD CLASS COACHING

 Juventus First Team - August 1st PM

Diagram 18

Progression - Third Man Runs

The size of the work area is expanded to use the full
width of the pitch. The players now work on longer
third man running with the final ball now played close
to 40 or 50 yards in length. The goal is to hit a running
teammate with a flighted ball after two players combine
with two short passes. (The distances can be shortened
depending on the standard of the players involved.)

Possession Exercises 6 v 6 + 6 Diagram 19

Play 6 v 6 keep-away in the marked area with the
six remaining “neutral” players on the outside of
the field supporting the team in possession. The
aim of the game is for the six players to maintain
possession before playing to one of the neutral players
who then plays a one-touch pass to the perimeter
player opposite. The receiving players’ successfully
controlled long pass equals one point. The neutral
team alternates with one of the inside teams on a time
basis.

Coaching Point
The level of passing technique, control, speed of
defending and concentration required is extremely high
for this drill to succeed.

Diagram 20

Crossing Game
Play 10 v 10 in one half of the field, with neutral
channels on each flank. Any one player at a time can
enter the channel to produce a cross (but can not be
challenged by a defender). Both teams line up in a
4-3-2 formation. The emphasis of the drill is quality
long flighted balls into the attacking zones followed by
quality crosses and attacking runs.

The session ends with a no-restrictions scrimmage

followed by three cool down laps of the field and some
‘indoor’ stretching.

© WORLD CLASS COACHING 11 Juventus Journal

 Juventus First Team - August 2nd PM
This session was conducted by head coach, Marcello Lippi and his assistants at the Chatillon Stadium located at
Juventus’ Summer Village.

Diagram 21
Warm Up
The players, led by fitness coach Ventrone, jogged slowly
in neat lines performing standard warm up movements
including running with high knees, skipping, running side
to side and arm circling. Following some stretching, the
players then played 9 v 2 in two groups in two separate 12
x 12-yard areas.

Offense v Defense
The players were split into two groups, eleven starting
players backed by new goalkeeper Buffon and eight
reserves. The starting players lined up in the formation
shown in diagram 21.

Diagram 22

Modified 3-4-3
Once in possession, the formation of the team changed
with the left back, Zambrotta, assuming the wide midfield
position and Nedved pinching into an attacking midfield/
withdrawn forward position. With Del Piero playing a
deeper role and leaving Kovacevic as the sole point of
attack, the formation became a modified 3-4-3.

Diagram 23

Pattern Play
The team worked on certain patterns of play, all intending
to create opportunities for crosses from wide attacking
positions. A pass would start from a center back to
withdrawn forward, Del Piero, or to the wide midfielder,
Nedved, who was pinching in. Del Piero or Nedved
would then play the ball back to the central midfielders
(Maresca) who would play a long, first time pass to the
outside defender (Zambrotta) who makes the overlapping
run.

Juventus Journal 12 © WORLD CLASS COACHING

 Juventus First Team - August 2nd PM

Diagram 24

Pattern Plays Continued

When Del Piero or Nedved were not marked tightly as
they came into midfield to receive a similar pass, they
would turn and run at pace with the ball toward the
middle of the defense before laying the ball wide for the
wide defenders (Zambrotta) to run onto and cross.

Diagram 25
Half-Field Game
Similar to the previous pattern, this time the long forward
pass, instead of going to the player sprinting into the
wide position, would be played long and in the air
for Kovacevi to flick on to Nedved who made a quick
turn and sprints very close by him to create a crossing
opportunity.

Observations
Tacchinardi served as the “PIVOT” player, playing just
in front of the defenders and facilitating the switching of
play from one side of the field to another.

The session ended with a 10 v 10 scrimmage.

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 Juventus Primavera - August 3rd AM

Diagram 26
Warm-Up
The warm-up consists of light jogging and stretching
followed by a conditioned scrimmage with 10
attackers v 8 defenders and a goalkeeper. A 65-yard
length field is used and the focus is on switching play
for the attacking group, with wide players getting into
advanced positions to receive the ball from the center
midfielders. For the defending group, the emphasis is
on holding the ball under pressure. Play begins with
the coach playing a ball to the furthest defender on
the attacking team. The defending team’s objective
is to hold the ball for seven consecutive passes under
high pressure.

Crossing and Finishing Diagram 27

This drill is for the forwards, attacking midfielders
and wing backs plus one goalkeeper. Two zones
are marked out on the attacking flanks of the field
within which a 2 v 1 situation is set up. The
attackers are encouraged to combine or dribble to
create an opportunity for the cross to be delivered to
the attackers making near and far post runs.

Observations
• Offside is not enforced
• It takes several rotations to figure out how best to
use the space available
• The coach enforces a two-touch restriction to speed
the process up

Diagram 28
Fitness with a Ball - Game One
The following series of games work on transition,
positional play, pressing the opponent and
possession under pressure. In a 10 v 10 situation,
the coach manages the tempo by playing balls to
force attacking and recovery runs. Starting with a
4 v 4 in the defending third, the coach plays a ball
to the dark team’s back four who, with the help of
the other six teammates in the adjoining zone, must
hold the ball for 5 or 6 successive passes with a
two-touch restriction. Upon the command of “GO”
they are allowed to attack the attacking zone through
a long ball. Their goal is to maintain control of
the ball in the new ‘territory”. The white back four
sprints back to try and disrupt that possession.

Juventus Journal 14 © WORLD CLASS COACHING

 Juventus Primavera - August 3rd AM

Diagram 29
Continued
If the white team gains possession, the roles reverse.
When an attack ‘breaks down’ or when the tempo of
the game decreases, the coach plays a new ball into the
defending third and calls “change”, forcing all players
to sprint back at least one zone.

Game Two
Using the same organization as game one, now a team
having made 5 or 6 successive passes, sprints into their
attacking zone to score in a goal placed on the 30
yard line, but facing the end line. For goals to count,
all players must either be in the attacking or midfield
zone.

Diagram 30

Game Three
Similar game but with the goals moved to the edges
of the center circle (still facing the end lines). A new
condition is that all attacking players have to be in
their attacking half for the goal to count and that all
defenders have to be back defending in their own half
or all goals scored against them count as double.

Diagram 31

Game Four
The goals are moved back to the 30-yard line with the
next condition; that all of the players from each team
have to be in the one area that the attacking team is
attacking for a goal to count and for the defending
team not to be penalized for the goal counting as
double.

© WORLD CLASS COACHING 15 Juventus Journal

 Juventus Primavera - August 4th AM
Held at Fenis Stadium, this session focused on agility and strength, the tactical training of the back four and
combination plays on the flanks. The session was followed by strength and power training, timed sprints and interval
running. For the warm-up, the players casually passed in three’s followed by some light jogging and some stretches.
This was followed by a series of push-ups, abdominal crunches and some forward and backward rolling on mats.

Diagram 32
Tactical Training - Back Four
To start this session, the players initially line up in the
positions shown in diagram 32, with the coach acting
as server from just inside the half-line. The coach first
focuses on the role and positioning of the left centerback
in supporting the left outside back who is defending against
an opposing player in possession. He encourages the
centerback to take up a position just to the ball side of and
nearly level with the player he is marking so that he will
be in a position to mark his own player and provide cover
for the left back, while simultaneously being in a position to
intercept a pass from the player in possession.

Diagram 33
The Back Four
Through an interchange of passes and passive defending,
the coach demonstrates the correct covering position
several times. At one point he “catches” the centerback
“cheating” too far over toward the left back by playing a
quick pass down the opposite side of the center forward
that he is marking (as shown in diagram 33).

As play develops and becomes more active and the

coach initiates play with a pass to the wide attacker and
encourages a 2 v 2 situation, he introduces the idea of
trying to catch the central attacker offside.

Diagram 34

Defending
Playing as a supporting midfield player, the coach
positions himself to receive a pass back from the wide
player. At the moment the ball travels to him, he
encourages the centerback to step up and put the forward
in an offside position. Secondly, he also encourages
the centerback to step up and “double team” the wide
player when the central attacker runs forward two or
three yards beyond the “restraining” line.

Juventus Journal 16 © WORLD CLASS COACHING

 Juventus Primavera - August 4th AM

Diagram 35

Progression
Still working the flanks, the coach introduces a third
attacker and defender. The coach’s instructions are that
the same player (center back closest to the flank player
in possession) must make the decision to track a player
running into advanced positions or to set up and create
an offside situation. As the attacker running in behind
the back line is in a relatively wide position, he coaches
the other centerback to move across quickly to be in a
position to defend against him, if required.

Diagram 36

Progression
Similarly, in situations where one centerback moves
forward to challenge a midfield player advancing with
the ball, it is the duty of the other centerback to pinch
in to cover his position as well as the duty of the fourth
defender (in this case, the left back) to pinch in as well.

Diagram 37

Progression
This portion of the session ends with the four attackers
(supported by the coach) playing against the back four
and a goalkeeper. The focus for the defenders is
to stay alert and to play well as a unit, and not to
concentrate too much on playing the offside trap, but
to focus on putting pressure on the ball and provide
cover for the players challenging the ball.

© WORLD CLASS COACHING 17 Juventus Journal

 Juventus Primavera - August 4th AM

Diagram 38

Flank Combination Plays

The forward and midfield players work on attacking
the flank area of the field with an area set up as shown
in diagram 38. Four 10 x 10-yard grids are marked
out with cones along one flank. Two training goals are
placed at both ends of the total area, with one facing
the area and the other at a right angle to the end area.

Diagram 39
Combination Plays
The goalkeeper/server is a field player who rotates into
this position. His role is to stay in the first zone and be
available for a back-pass. The attacking team starts with
the ball, and through combination plays and dribbling
have an opportunity to finish in the end zone goal.
Scoring “goals” here really represents creating room for
a cross in a game situation.

In diagram 39, player A (the goalkeeper/server) passes

to C; C to D; D to B who then hits a long pass to an
overlapping C. E “clears space” for C to run into.

Diagram 40

Combinations
Player A plays to C; C to D; D to C; C hits a long
flighted ball up the line to E who had checked back
and in to create space behind him. Player E receives
the ball facing the touch-line before turning to beat the
defender, one-on-one, to cross.

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 Juventus Primavera - August 4th AM

Diagram 41

Combinations Cont’d
Player A passes to C; C to D; D to B; B to E; E (playing
with his back to goal) lays a ball back to C who had
continued his run. C crosses first or second touch into the
training goal.

Diagram 42 Combinations Cont’d

Player A passes to B; B to D; D to B; B (who moves forward
to support D) plays a first time pass inside the defender
marking E who moves in towards the ball. E practices
holding and curving his run as not to be offside, before
spinning away to cross.

The attacking team starts each sequence, but if at any time

the defending team wins possession, they are free to attack
the goal they are facing.

Observations
The session is played at a high tempo with the emphasis on
one and two-touch play and the timing of angled runs.

Diagram 43

Combination Plays
The field changes dimensions and look with the training goals
moved and the final zone extended. The goalkeeper /server
now becomes active in the play and joins in with the attack.
With the goal “reversed’, the players who were attackers now
become the defending team, again working in the approximate
positions they normally do during games.

Interval Running
The session ends with the players wearing heart monitors and running in the field (changing direction regularly) in the
following fixed time intervals:
One minute of fast running is followed by 30 seconds of walking; repeated for a total of 20 minutes. Five players finish
after 15 minutes by reaching their target heart rate goals. Individual stretching complete the session.

© WORLD CLASS COACHING 19 Juventus Journal

 August Primavera - August 5th AM

The players were split into two groups. The attacking group began in the weight room with the fitness coach while the
defending players worked with head coach, Gasperini. The goalkeepers worked with the goalkeeper coach and their
warm-up included a jog down the field, stooping every three or four steps to push the ball with alternating hands;
transferring the ball from hand to hand; easy jumps to catch the ball and fast footwork from side to side.

Diagram 44
Heading Warm-Up
Eight defenders work in one penalty area with full size
goals at each end.

4 v 4 Heading Game
Players cannot run with the ball but make progress toward
the goal with a series of short hand passes leading to a
headed goal. Defenders can only defend using their heads.
Goals are only good if they go directly into the goal without
bouncing. If the ball hits the ground, the first player must
scoop it up with his feet to himself or a teammate for the
game to continue.

Diagram 45

Variation
The players must now make an underhand pass to the
coach who volleys the ball back for an attacking team
player to head on goal.

Diagram 46

One v One
Players from both teams take turns in attacking and
defending crosses played into the penalty area by the
coach. The coach first plays high volleys, focusing on
jumping height and timing. In the second round, he plays
short crosses from the ground, asking the players to focus
on their movement so as to be first to the ball.

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Diagram 47

Progression
The coach, now positioned in the center of the field,
serves balls to the wide players who cross with their
second touch from near the edge of the penalty area.
Two attackers cross their runs and attempt to score
opposed by one defender and a goalkeeper.

Variation
Two defenders are introduced to challenge for the ball.
The emphasis changes to defensive headers and then
to the type and quality of crosses being made by the
wide players.

Diagram 48

Progressions
• Focusing on the variety and quality of crosses,
the coach acts as a “wall” for a return lay-off
before the cross is struck as shown in diagram 48.
Crossers start with the ball, dribble towards the
coach (standing near the end line) and play a ‘give-
and-go’ before delivering a cross.

• The coach now positions himself 10 yards in from

the end-line. The players run at the coach with
the ball and do a fake inside before taking the ball
outside of the coach and delivering a cross.

Diagram 49

Variation
The coach now takes up a position close to the
crossing players and plays a short pass to the crosser
who then crosses first time from a different angle.

Juventus Journal 22 © WORLD CLASS COACHING

 Juventus Primavera - August 5th AM

Diagram 50

Variation
The coach, now standing behind the end-line facing the
crosses, lays the ball back to the crossers to “whip” crosses
in first time. Pace and swerve are the key ingredients, with
the players being encouraged to deliver the crosses between
knee and chest height. The players attacking the crosses
must attempt diving headers and volleys to score.

Diagram 51

Final Variation
The coach now positions himself three yards in front of the
near post and stays stationary. Players attacking the near
post practice getting “across” the front of him and heading
on goal from an acute angle.

Observations
Each drill is repeated on the left hand side of the field with
the crossers alternating with the players heading the ball.

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© WORLD CLASS COACHING 23 Juventus Journal

 Juventus Primavera - August 6th AM
This was a tactical session on team formation; defensive pressing and possession; group fitness and running with and
without the ball. The players warmed up by passing and juggling in small groups before splitting into two groups.
Ten starting players joined Head Coach, Gasperini, while the remaining players practiced shooting from the edge of
the penalty area. For the first part of the session, Gasperini arranged the players in their playing formation and then
proceeded to walk through certain player movements that he would like. In particular, he focused on the movement of
the defenders when another defender was in possession and passing and supporting options for midfielders.

Diagram 52

Pressing and Possession

The players form two games of 4 v 2 in two areas of 20
x 10-yards with one-touch play only allowed. The primary
objective of the two players in the middle is to not be “split”
by a pass played between them. The defending players
switch with the outside players every 45 seconds.

Diagram 53

Pressing
The players prepare for the next exercise by playing a 6 v 6
keep-away game in a 36 x 36-yard area with the condition
that they can only defend against one designated player.
Anyone can intercept a pass, but free kicks are awarded for
tackling anyone other than one’s direct opponent.

Diagram 54

Progression
When the coach calls the name of one of the players in
possession, all of the players on the defending team within
the vicinity of the player chase and press the player with the
ball. The player in possession tries to hold the ball against
pressure and pass to a teammate if possible. When the ball
goes out of play, the coach restarts the game with a new ball,
playing either a long or short pass to players who do not have
nearby support.

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 Juventus Primavera - August 6th AM

Diagram 55

Pressing and Possession

Still playing 6 v 6, the players now take up the positions
as shown in diagram 55. The attacking unit begins with
the ball and attempts to score. Offside is introduced and
upon gaining possession, the defending unit’s objective
is to hold the ball under heavy pressure from the
attacking unit for eight consecutive passes (which counts
as a goal). The goalkeeper is encouraged to offer himself
as an outlet and to be comfortable “on the ball”.

Diagram 56

Conditioning
Following a water break the players begin 12 minutes
of running. Players jog at a medium tempo freely
around the field for 30 seconds. Upon the signal from
the coach, they all run faster in a counter clockwise
direction for 30 seconds around the field in an 80-yard
loop with about 15 to 20 yards distance between them.
Initially, one coach plays different types of passes to
the players to control on the run. A second coach
serves up more balls to increase the pressure and force
the players into a spring or high jump to meet the ball.

Diagram 57

Half-Field Game
In the final work period, the players in turn receive a pass
from one coach, before playing a pass/switch to another
player. That player then carries the ball forward before
playing a wall-pass with another coach before finishing
with a shot on goal.

The session finishes with the players stretching on their

own.

© WORLD CLASS COACHING 25 Juventus Journal

 Juventus Primavera - August 7th AM
Under the direction of the fitness coach, the group begins with a lap of half a field followed by stretching. In addition
to the more typical warm up activities, the players warm up jogging straight down the field and practicing quick cuts
to the left and to the right as well as running backwards in a crouched defensive stance for a few yards before turning
for short sprints.

Diagram 58

Finishing Drills
The coach, using either free kick dummies, flag poles or
cones creates a series of “mazes” for the players to dribble
through before shooting on goal. In these drills the players
are allowed to choose which direction they would enter the
maze, the speed of the dribble and with which foot they will
finish. In all cases, the players would shoot following the
touch that took them out of the maze and following a look
up to check on the goalkeeper’s position.

Diagram 59

Development
The players dribble toward the simple maze and with a
quick change of pace, enter the maze with one touch,
avoiding the “defender” in the middle and exit the maze
with another touch before shooting. The players alternate
the side they enter the maze and the foot that they finish
with.

Diagram 60

Variation
With the addition of extra cones/poles/dummies the new
set-up is shown in diagram 60.

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 Juventus Primavera - August 7th AM

Diagram 61

Progression
A typical run through the maze is: A player dribbles
toward the maze and through the first “gate”. He then
uses the outside of his left foot to push the ball around
the left side of the pole, before using another one or
two small touches with his left foot to get through
the second gate. This is followed by another large
touch to either the left or right of the last pole before
finishing with his left or right foot, depending on the
direction he had gone.

Diagram 62

Continuation
The next exercise moves closer to the edge of the
penalty area to give the players a chance to “cut in” on
goal. A straight line of cones mean the player’s weave
in and out, starting on the outside to finish with a right
footed shot or on the inside to finish on the left foot.
The extra cone/gate at the end of the maze is placed to
restrict the angle for the shot.

Diagram 63

Progression
This exercise begins a little farther out and adds a wall-
pass with a teammate or coach at the end of the maze.
After first practicing the wall-pass from a stationary
position, the coach or players then practice checking
away first before showing for the ball. In addition, the
players practice back heeling or “Cruyff” turn passes into
the path of the shooter.

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 Juventus Primavera - August 7th AM

Diagram 64

Progression
The receiving players now lay the ball back or
square before “circling back” or “spinning out” to
face the goal. The dribblers delay their through
ball slightly by taking a second touch if necessary
to allow their teammate to position himself. All of
these combination plays take off sides into account,
using a final cone or pole as the last “defender”.

Juventus Journal 28 © WORLD CLASS COACHING